Television: Goodbye, Mr.Chimp

Manhattan's Radio City buzzed last week with news of a major defection:
J. Fred Muggs, 4½, the world's most successful chimpanzee, would quit
NBC's Today on March 1 after spending all but ten months of his life
as Dave Garroway's ape-in-the-hole. First reports said that Muggs was
retiring because of laggard health and old age. "Nonsense," said an NBC
spokesman. "He's leaving Garroway for the same reason Nanette Fabray
left Sid Caesar. He thinks he can make more money on his own."

Muggs was recovering from a virus infection at his rambling ten-room
house...